Navy SEALs back call to Free Jailed SAS Hero

27.11.2012

Former U.S Navy SEALs have offered their support for jailed SAS hero, Danny Nightingale. The SEAL Foundation, a charity which supports active duty and veteran SEALs and other U.S. Naval Special Warfare personnel, reached out to Nightingale's legal team, the Sun has reported.

Sgt Danny Nightingale, a soldier with 22 SAS, was recently jailed for 18 months for illegally possessing a pistol that was given to him by the Iraqi Army in recognition of his service.

The show of support by the SEALs joins a chorus of outrage over the case. In an open letter to David Cameron written by Lt Col Richard Williams, Sgt Nightingale's commanding officer in Iraq, and signed by former SAS soldiers, Andy McNab and Chris Ryan, wrote “This shameful betrayal ruins 17 years of exemplary service - including 11 with the SAS."

"We say this prosecution should never have happened. Furthermore, we say he was bullied into a guilty plea. And lastly, we say the custodial sentence is completely disproportionate to the alleged crime."

"We say he is the victim of a shameful travesty of justice and we demand immediate action.”